Nevsehir University officially renamed

The name of Nevsehir University has been changed to Hacı Bektas Veli University.

General

01 Kasım 2013 Cuma 14:56

A draft law to rename Nevsehir University and Siirt's Aydınlar district, proposed as part of planned steps to democratization that were included in a reform package announced by the Turkish government in late September, has been approved by Parliament.

The government package also includes measures to address issues faced by Turkey's minorities, including its citizens of the Alevi faith. In line with the newly passed legislation the name of Nevşehir University has been changed to Hacı Bektashi Veli -- a beloved figure for Alevis who established the Bektashi order of dervishes, central to Alevi faith and practices -- and the name of Siirt's Aydınlar district has now become the Kurdish word “Tillo.”

The draft law to rename the university was adopted in Parliament on Thursday. The university's official name has been changed to Hacı Bektas Veli University, and the name of the district to Tillo, the Kurdish equivalent of Aydınlar, which roughly translates to “enlightened.”

The proposal came to Parliament with the signatures of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies from Nevsehir and Siirt after the reform package was announced.